I checked the most recent recording of our congregation singing Dwelling in Beulah Land and discovered they didn’t sing it as fast as I was thinking.
My son led this hymn in a more moderate tempo. But…the arrangement is quite suitable for medium speed.
Some hymns just seem more demanding than others. This is one of those hymns! Once you see the chorus…you may understand why I’m tired after playing just one verse and chorus! 😉
I get very emotionally involved in the text as you’ll notice in the chorus 😉
I’m sure you all may have even better ideas for this particular hymn. Special note: I did add several corrections to this arrangement as of June 8th, 2021
Chorus Sampler for Beulah Land (piano congregational style)
Part Two: Chorus coming this Monday!
I LOVE adding zest to the old hymns. Over the past several years…I have become more free with congregational accompaniment…meaning…I play less melody IF the hymn is familiar to the congregation.)
The congregation REALLY gets in to this particular hymn. They sing it with much enthusiasm!
I will publish the chorus for Dwelling in Beulah Land this Monday.
As promised, here’s the verse of Dwelling in Beulah Land like I might play for congregational singing at my church. (link contains verse and chorus)
Editor notes:
This arrangement was written to be handled at about quarter note = 120 tempo
I ironed out the excessive wrinkles (dotted quarter note + eighth note) and played more even rhythms to make it easier on the hands of the pianist…as in measures: 1,3,5,6 etc.
I also inserted 6 quarter note rests during the verse to break up the right hand movement and for interesting rhythm!
The quarter note + half note rhythm in the left hand created more rhythmic drive.
I have more freedom with this song because our congregation knows it very well. You would need to add more melody if your congregation is not as familiar with this song. Notice: I used just enough melody to prevent me from being disorientated and to provide some melody stability for the singers 😉
My goal is to make the congregational style accompaniment support the singers and to make it enjoyable/comfortable for the pianist to play
This video gives suggestions on how to ease through an abrupt chord change in a hymn. The hymn in this lesson is entitled “Where Jesus Is, ‘Tis Heaven”.
I had NEVER heard of this hymn until one of my readers recently shared it with me. Thanks Karen!
Download the two pages below before viewing the video. (For ease of reference)
Just this afternoon I had one of my intermediate students ask me, “What could I play during the echo section in the chorus of “It is Well?”
She enjoyed learning the left hand patterns I entered as a suggested route. I told her if she would learn to recognize her chords in the hymnal…it would open up a whole realm of improvising choices!
Click on the title below to download your copy of the chorus ideas for “It is Well.”